Musculoskeletal conditions are common in patients with diabetes. Several musculoskeletal disorders are viewed as chronic complications of diabetes because epidemiological studies have revealed high correlations between such complications and diabetes, but the pathophysiological links with diabetes remains unclear. Genetic predispositions, shared risk factors, microvascular impairments, progressive accumulation of advanced glycation end-products, and diabetic neuropathy may underlie the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal complications of diabetics have received less attention than life-threatening microvascular or macrovascular complications. Here, we review several diabetic musculoskeletal complications with a focus on the clinical importance of early recognition and management, which would improve quality of life and physical function.

Fluoroscopy is used frequently during endoscopic procedures, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, exposure to radiation is an important health concern, primarily because of the potential increase in the lifetime risk of malignancy. This consideration is important for patients and staff exposed to radiation during ERCP. Thus, an understanding of how radiation doses are measured during ERCP and the potential risks of this radiation is important. Additionally, staff must be educated about methods used to minimize the radiation dose, such as the use of different imaging techniques, the general principles of fluoroscopy, and advances in hardware and software. The use of personal protective equipment is also essential to minimize occupational exposure. However, no comprehensive ERCP guideline on the use of X-ray systems in clinical settings or on radiation protection for operators has been established. This review focuses on the properties of fluoroscopy systems and methods of radiation protection for physicians and assistants participating in ERCP.

The Korean Society for Electrolyte and Blood Pressure Research, in collaboration with the Korean Society of Nephrology, has published a clinical practice guideline (CPG) document for hyponatremia treatment. The document is based on an extensive evidence-based review of the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of hyponatremia with the multidisciplinary participation of representative experts in hyponatremia with methodologist support for guideline development. This CPG consists of 12 recommendations (two for diagnosis, eight for treatment, and two for special situations) based on eight detailed topics and nine key questions. Each recommendation begins with statements graded by the strength of the recommendations and the quality of the evidence. Each statement is followed by rationale supporting the recommendations. The committee issued conditional recommendations in favor of rapid intermittent bolus administration of hypertonic saline in severe hyponatremia, the use of vasopressin receptor antagonists in heart failure with hypervolemic hyponatremia, and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis with moderate to severe hyponatremia, the individualization of desmopressin use, and strong recommendation on the administration of isotonic fluids as maintenance fluid therapy in hospitalized pediatric patients. We hope that this CPG will provide useful recommendations in practice, with the aim of providing clinical support for shared decision-making to improve patient outcomes.

Background/Aims: We aimed to investigate the oral beclomethasone dipropionate's (BDP) efficacy as an add-on therapy and to clarify the predictive factor for response to oral BDP in Korean ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.
Methods: Patients with a stable concomitant drug regimen with exposure to oral BDP (5 mg/day) within 30 days before BDP initiation were included. Partial Mayo score (pMS) was used to evaluate response to oral BDP. Clinical remission (CREM) was defined as a post-treatment pMS ≤ 1 point. Clinical response (CRES) was defined as an at least 2-point decrease in post-treatment pMS and an at least 30% decrease from baseline pMS. Patients without CREM or CRES were considered nonresponders (NRs).
Results: Of all, 37 showed CREM, 19 showed CRES, and 44 were NRs. The CREM group included more patients with mild disease activity (75.7% vs. 43.2%, p = 0.011) than NRs. In contrast to NRs, CREM and CRES patients showed significant improvement of post-treatment erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (ESR with p = 0.001, CRP with p = 0.004, respectively). Moreover, the initial rectal bleeding subscore (RBS) was significantly different between CREM and CRES, or NR (both with p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, initial stool frequency subscore (SFS) of 0 and RBS of 0 were predictive factors for CREM (odds ratio [OR], 15.359; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.085 to 217.499; p = 0.043 for SFS, and OR, 11.434; 95% CI, 1.682 to 77.710; p = 0.013 for RBS).
Conclusions: Oral BDP is an efficacious add-on therapy in Korean UC patients. Patients with initial SFS or RBS of 0 may be particularly good candidates for oral BDP.

Background/Aims: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly-used medications, and ailments such as arthritis or heart disease, require long-term use of these drugs, which can induce gastroenteropathy with bleeding and ulcers. This study investigated the associations between efficacy, safety, and gastrointestinal symptoms linked to rebamipide and proton pump inhibitor administration in patients requiring long-term NSAID use.
Methods: This study was a multi-center, randomized, open-labeled, pilot design.
Results: Thirty-three patients were included. Of these, 15 were included in the study group and 18 were in the control group. NSAID-induced gastric ulcers, which were the primary outcome of this study, did not occur in either the study or control group. Changes in the number of small bowel erosions and ulcers were -0.6 ± 3.06 in the study group and 1.33 ± 4.71 in the control group. The number of subjects with mucosal breaks (defined as multiple erosions and/or ulcers) was three (20%) in the study group and six (40%) in the control group (p = 0.427). No serious adverse events occurred in either group. However, dyspepsia and skin rashes occurred in six patients (31.58%) in the study group and 13 (65%) in the control group (p = 0.036).
Conclusions: Although statistically significant differences were not generated, possibly as a result of the small sample size, mucosal breaks observed via capsule endoscopy revealed that rebamipide was likely to be more effective than lansoprazole in preventing small intestine damage caused by NSAIDs. Furthermore, fewer side-effects emerged with rebamipide.

Background/Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected Korean patients in a real clinical setting.
Methods: A total of 273 patients who received LDV/SOF therapy between May 2016 and February 2021 were consecutively enrolled and analyzed. A per-protocol analysis was performed to evaluate the virologic response.
Results: Seventy-five percent were infected with genotype 1, and 25% were infected with genotype 2. A hundred eightyone (66.3%) patients had chronic hepatitis, 74 (27.1%) had compensated cirrhosis, eight (2.9%) had decompensated cirrhosis, and 10 (3.7%) had undergone liver transplantation. Undetectable HCV RNA at week 4 was achieved in 90.2% (231/256) of patients, 99.2% (250/252) achieved the end of treatment response, and 98.1% (202/206) achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12). According to liver function, the SVR12 rates were 99.3% (135/136) in chronic hepatitis, 96.4% (53/55) in compensated cirrhosis, and 100% (6/6) in decompensated cirrhosis. The SVR12 rates according to the genotype were 98.2% (167/170) for genotype 1 and 97.2% (35/36) for genotype 2. An 8-week LDV/SOF treatment in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis patients with HCV RNA < 6,000,000 IU/mL at baseline resulted in 100% (23/23) SVR12 rates. Overall, LDV/SOF was tolerated well, with a 0.7% (2/273) discontinuation rate due to adverse events that were unrelated to LDV/SOF.
Conclusions: LDV/SOF is effective and safe for treating HCV-infected Korean patients with high SVR12 rates.

Background/Aims: Acute upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding is a significant emergency situation with a mortality rate of 2% to 10%. Therefore, initial risk stratification is important for proper management. We aimed to evaluate the role of contrast- enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for risk stratification in patients with acute UGI bleeding in the emergency room (ER).
Methods: This retrospective study included patients with UGI bleeding in the ER. Glasgow-Blatchford risk score-computed tomography (GBS-CT) was assessed using a combination of GBS and the MDCT scan scoring system.
Results: Of the 297 patients with UGI bleeding, 124 (41.8%) underwent abdominal MDCT. Among them, 90.3% were classified as high-risk by GBS, and five patients died (4.0%). Rebleeding occurred in nine patients (7.3%). The high-risk GBS-CT group had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (10.5% in high-risk vs. 1.4% in moderate risk vs. 0% in low-risk, p = 0.049), transfusion amount (p < 0.001), and endoscopic hemostasis (p < 0.001) compared to the moderate- and low-risk groups.
Conclusions: Adding MDCT scans to the existing validated prognosis model when predicting the risk of UGI bleeding in patients in the ER plays a significant role in determining in-hospital mortality, transfusions, and the need for endoscopic hemostasis.

Background/Aims: Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at high risk for developing pressure injuries, which can cause severe complications and even increase the mortality risk. Therefore, prevention of pressure injuries is most important. In this study, we investigated the risk factors of pressure injury development in patients admitted to the ICU.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients ages > 18 years admitted to the medical ICU in a tertiary hospital between January and December 2019. We collected patient baseline characteristics, medications received, mechanical ventilation or hemodialysis use, laboratory findings, and date of pressure injury onset and characteristics.
Results: We analyzed 666 patients who did not have pressure injuries at ICU admission. Pressure injuries developed in 102 patients (15%). The risk of pressure injury development increased as the administration days for neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs; odds ratio [OR], 1.138; p = 0.019) and opioids (OR, 1.084; p = 0.028) increased, and if the patient had problem with friction and shear (OR, 2.203; p = 0.011).
Conclusions: The prolonged use of NMBAs and opioids can increase the risk of pressure injury development. Because these medications are associated with immobilization, using both should be minimized and patient early mobilization should be promoted. Among the Braden subscales, “friction and shear” was associated with the development of pressure injuries in ICU patients.

Background/Aims: DW1601, an oral fixed dose combination syrup composed of DW16011 and Pelargonium sidoides, was developed to enhance the symptom relief effect in patients with acute bronchitis. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of DW1601 compared to DW16011 or P. sidoides for treatment of acute bronchitis using a randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled, multi-centre trial design.
Methods: A total of 204 patients with acute bronchitis was randomized 1:1:1 to receive DW1601 (n = 67), DW16011 (n = 70), or P. sidoides (n = 64) for 7 days. The primary outcome was efficacy of DW1601 compared to DW16011 or P. sidoides in reducing the total bronchitis severity score (BSS) at day 4 of treatment. Secondary endpoints were changes in total and symptomspecific BSS, response rate and patient satisfaction rate. Safety analysis was assessed at day 7.
Results: At 4 days after medication, decrease of total BSS from baseline was significantly greater in the DW1601 group than in the DW16011 group (-3.51 ± 0.18 vs. -2.65 ± 0.18, p = 0.001) or P. sidoides group (-3.56 ± 0.18 vs. -2.64 ± 0.19, p < 0.001). In addition, the BSS total score at day 7 and the BSS cough and sputum component scores at days 4 and 7 were significantly more improved with DW1601 treatment compared with the DW16011 group or P. sidoides group. Participants treated with DW1601 showed higher rates of response and satisfaction than control groups (response rate, DW1601, 100% vs. DW16011, 85.7% vs. P. sidoides, 85.9%; satisfaction rate, DW1601, 92.6% vs. DW16011, 82.9% vs. P. sidoides, 81.2%). Significant adverse events were not observed in the DW1601 group.
Conclusions: DW1601 is superior to DW16011 or P. sidoides in improving symptoms of acute bronchitis.